1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:13,840 Welcome to the Album Nerds podcast with your hosts, Andy, Don, and Dude. 2 00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:14,840 Get the funk out. 3 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:16,760 It's the Album Nerds podcast. 4 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:18,360 I'm Dude. 5 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:20,080 I got a disappointed Andy. 6 00:00:20,080 --> 00:00:21,080 I'm Dude. 7 00:00:21,080 --> 00:00:23,320 I got Andy and Don with me. 8 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:24,800 What's happening? 9 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:25,800 Hot stuff. 10 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:26,800 How you doing, Andy? 11 00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:27,800 Hey, what's up, brother? 12 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:33,560 Hey, were you aware that if you free your mind, then your ass will follow? 13 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:35,760 I thought it was the rest will follow. 14 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:38,160 It depends what verse you're on, but yeah. 15 00:00:38,160 --> 00:00:39,720 Don, how you doing? 16 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:42,360 I'm going to turn this mother out. 17 00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:43,360 Don't. 18 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:46,360 Don't ever say mother again. 19 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:47,360 Wow. 20 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:54,880 If you could see Don's expression when he said that, it's still fear in any way. 21 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:58,820 So this is in fact the Album Nerds podcast. 22 00:00:58,820 --> 00:00:59,880 We love albums. 23 00:00:59,880 --> 00:01:01,420 We love talking about them. 24 00:01:01,420 --> 00:01:06,320 We are big music fans and would like to welcome you all to the party. 25 00:01:06,320 --> 00:01:07,320 All right. 26 00:01:07,320 --> 00:01:10,120 So we've got a great show for you today. 27 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:15,680 We're going to be getting funky, talking a little bit about some funk fusion. 28 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:17,640 So we're going to get into our week of listening. 29 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:19,760 How funked up did we get? 30 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:26,080 And then we'll talk about our three album picks as well as answer a question that will 31 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:29,400 loosely be related to today's topic. 32 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:32,300 And then we're going to spin the wheel of musical destiny to find out what we're going 33 00:01:32,300 --> 00:01:35,840 to talk about on the next podcast episode. 34 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:37,960 But this week, it's all about that funk. 35 00:01:37,960 --> 00:01:41,240 That's what I'm talking about. 36 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:46,920 So funk is a music genre that originated in African-American communities in the mid 1960s 37 00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:51,600 when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various 38 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:52,600 popular genres. 39 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:57,440 It de-emphasizes melody and chord progressions and focuses on the strong rhythmic groove 40 00:01:57,440 --> 00:02:02,320 of a bass line and drum part, often at slower tempos than other popular music. 41 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:07,040 Funk typically consists of a complex percussive groove with rhythm instruments playing interlocking 42 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:10,680 grooves that create a hypnotic and danceable feel. 43 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:14,200 James Brown developed a signature groove that emphasized the downbeat. 44 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:19,160 He also had rock and psychedelic influenced musicians like Sly and the Family Stone and 45 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:22,600 Jimi Hendrix fostering improvisation in funk. 46 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:26,940 Artists such as Cool and the Gang, Parliament, Funkadelic, and Earth, Wind and Fire further 47 00:02:26,940 --> 00:02:30,480 developed these innovations in the 70s and 80s. 48 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:35,080 Funk's influence can be found in all genres of popular music, including pop, jazz, hip 49 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:36,400 hop, rock, and metal. 50 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:41,600 And today, each of us will present an album that incorporates elements of funk. 51 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:46,920 Hey Don, the History Channel called it once it's funk episode back. 52 00:02:46,920 --> 00:02:49,200 You should hear the unedited version. 53 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:51,960 Trying to watch the History Channel here. 54 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:56,320 Andy, how did you do on your funky journey? 55 00:02:56,320 --> 00:02:59,160 Oh man, I was lost out at a funk sea for a while. 56 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:02,560 Spent a lot of time in the 70s, a lot of good stuff there. 57 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:08,300 Obviously George Duke, Donald Byrd, Bobby Humphrey, even Jeff Beck had a pretty funky 58 00:03:08,300 --> 00:03:10,380 album in the mid 70s. 59 00:03:10,380 --> 00:03:16,480 And then more modern stuff, a little Fishbone, pretty funky group as well. 60 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:22,960 And then I listened to a bunch of Tony Allen, who was a part of a fellow Coutes band also 61 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:26,920 in the 70s, but he puts out some later work in the 2000s that was pretty good as well. 62 00:03:26,920 --> 00:03:31,000 But yeah, now I ended up with a new artist that we'll talk about in a few moments here 63 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:32,000 that I'm pretty excited about. 64 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:34,000 New to me, I should say. 65 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:35,800 Yeah, I had a similar experience. 66 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:39,240 The 70s were hard to escape, but then we were kind of looking for things that were more 67 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:45,200 funk influenced or came after and had elements of funk in it rather than funk itself. 68 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:48,240 And I wanted to take the easy road. 69 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:53,200 Stevie Wonder Talking Book certainly has funk elements, but a lot of R&B and soul elements 70 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:54,200 as well. 71 00:03:54,200 --> 00:04:02,480 24 Seven Spies, the album Harder Than You, mix of funk, reggae, metal, polka. 72 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:06,160 They do a pretty cool cover of Jungle Boogie by Cool and the Gang. 73 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:07,720 I was really close on that one. 74 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:12,040 It's from the 80s and then anything by Lenny Kravitz would have probably sufficed because 75 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:15,120 he has at least one song on every album that's pretty funky. 76 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:19,860 But I decided to go a different direction kind of in the same time period where Lenny 77 00:04:19,860 --> 00:04:23,040 Kravitz was Breaking Big, but it's a pretty exciting record. 78 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:24,920 So can't wait to get into that. 79 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:29,200 Donald, did you explore new funky territory or go back to the well? 80 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:30,920 Well, yeah, I did a little of both. 81 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:35,520 Of course, the first place I started was Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. 82 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:40,360 Of course, it doesn't get much funkier than that. 83 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:45,280 I did want to mention some albums that we've covered before that would qualify. 84 00:04:45,280 --> 00:04:49,040 Roxy Music Avalon, Faith No More, Epic. 85 00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:52,720 I think any Duran Duran album would probably qualify. 86 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:58,360 I really came close to doing Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blood Sugar, Sex Magic from 1991. 87 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:01,080 But instead, I did go back to the 70s. 88 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:05,080 Funky butt loving. 89 00:05:05,080 --> 00:05:07,080 All right, well, let's get to it then. 90 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:10,080 You choo choo choose me? 91 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:13,080 Are you the bass player? 92 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:18,080 Why are we even talking to you? 93 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:22,080 Shouldn't you be like unloading equipment or something? 94 00:05:22,080 --> 00:05:25,080 The bass is the foundation of the band. 95 00:05:25,080 --> 00:05:31,560 All right here for my funk fusion selection, we are talking about Jaco Pastorius and his 96 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:37,280 self-titled debut solo studio album from 1976. 97 00:05:37,280 --> 00:05:43,160 Jaco is a bassist and composer from Norristown, Pennsylvania. 98 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:47,720 He's known for his flashy electric bass play as a solo artist. 99 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:52,960 And then he gained some more notoriety later on as a member of The Weather Report. 100 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:59,680 Particular Record features piano stylings by Herbie Hancock, as well as some nice features 101 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:06,080 by saxophones Wayne Shorter and R&B vocalist Sam and Dave. 102 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:07,480 Star-studded affair. 103 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:10,600 We are going to play a cut here that features Sam and Dave. 104 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:15,600 This is a little bit of come on, come over. 105 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:21,840 You can barely hear the bass. 106 00:06:21,840 --> 00:06:24,960 I hope you're joking. 107 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:28,160 Yeah, turn up your headphones, man. 108 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:30,280 It was so nice this week. 109 00:06:30,280 --> 00:06:35,900 So much bass, but nice funky bass underneath everything and all the records kind of have 110 00:06:35,900 --> 00:06:36,900 it at the forefront. 111 00:06:36,900 --> 00:06:37,900 Yes. 112 00:06:37,900 --> 00:06:38,900 Yeah, definitely. 113 00:06:38,900 --> 00:06:42,540 Definitely a feature this week and particularly on this record. 114 00:06:42,540 --> 00:06:48,360 So Jaco kind of serves as the band leader here, composing the majority of these songs 115 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:53,200 and kind of taking lead on the bass, which is kind of interesting to hear the instrument 116 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:55,880 lead the way, especially in a jazz group. 117 00:06:55,880 --> 00:07:01,680 I would say this album does classify primarily as jazz, but I think even more than that, 118 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:05,400 it's really a showcase for Pastorius' bass playing skills. 119 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:11,400 And he's really out to capture the imagination of what was capable on the bass here. 120 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:15,520 Three words I use to describe this album is, see if you guys remember this meme from about 121 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:16,520 20 years ago. 122 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:20,720 All your bass are belong to Jaco. 123 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:23,720 Some people out there will get that. 124 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:30,040 Yeah, I was just, Has Cheeseburger was the only thing coming in line for me. 125 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:31,040 Same time period. 126 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:34,560 Yeah, I thought that track there, Come On, Come Over, really stood out. 127 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:39,280 It's the only track that has vocals on it and has a kind of a larger sound on it with 128 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:42,400 the horns and accompaniments there. 129 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:47,440 Yeah, I thought that song in particular really crackled along and worked really well. 130 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:51,680 There are some other really impressive moments on the album. 131 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:53,920 Some really cool solos. 132 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:56,880 But I think overall on this record, I'm a little bit mixed on it to be honest. 133 00:07:56,880 --> 00:08:02,120 I think as impressive as Jaco's bass playing is, I don't know if it works great in a group 134 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:06,640 like this in terms of like actual songs like you would get in a traditional jazz album. 135 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:10,240 It feels like a lot of these songs don't really go anywhere to me. 136 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:11,240 There are some exceptions though. 137 00:08:11,240 --> 00:08:18,080 I think Used To Be A Cha Cha is a pretty great song as well as the opening cut, Donnal Lee 138 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:19,080 is pretty impressive. 139 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:22,360 Why don't we play another song that I thought worked pretty well. 140 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:23,840 This is a two-parter here. 141 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:38,160 It's called Kuru, Speak Like A Child. 142 00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:40,160 That one's like funky Charlie Brown. 143 00:08:40,160 --> 00:08:43,160 Oh, good grief. 144 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:46,940 A little Geraldi feel to it. 145 00:08:46,940 --> 00:08:51,040 So that features Herbie Hancock on piano. 146 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:57,400 So the three words I chose to describe this album are stand up for the electric bass. 147 00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:00,960 Again, I'm a jazz novice. 148 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:06,240 But when I think of jazz and like a jazz trio or whatever, I always picture the stand up 149 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:12,080 bass being the instrument that is providing that rhythm track. 150 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:16,680 But of course, this album is all about the electric bass guitar, which really gives it 151 00:09:16,680 --> 00:09:19,000 a different feel. 152 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:23,640 An electric bass is amplified and it's more dynamic. 153 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:28,520 Apparently Pastoris uses a fretless bass, which again, I don't know a ton about, but 154 00:09:28,520 --> 00:09:34,560 it does seem to provide a smoother feel and there's more room between semitones and stuff 155 00:09:34,560 --> 00:09:35,560 like that. 156 00:09:35,560 --> 00:09:38,840 So again, a more dynamic experience. 157 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:45,520 I just chose to lose myself in his bass playing really fast. 158 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:51,920 So I guess, because I mainly come from a place of pop music and you don't generally hear 159 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:56,040 that du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du too much. 160 00:09:56,040 --> 00:09:57,040 So that was different. 161 00:09:57,040 --> 00:10:01,040 Apparently he's also making use of harmonics a lot more. 162 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:03,240 I don't know if you guys know a lot about harmonics. 163 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:07,520 Generally you're like, there's no way I could explain it. 164 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:09,520 Thanks for bringing it up. 165 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:10,520 Yeah. 166 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:12,440 Because I don't even fully understand it. 167 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:16,400 But usually it's when you have like, you kind of softly fret something. 168 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:18,320 You can do it on a guitar as well. 169 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:22,960 And so it has like these almost like overtones or something that are almost like accidental. 170 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:26,000 You're not fretting the note as you usually would. 171 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:27,000 That's a terrible explanation. 172 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:31,140 But anyway, innovative use of harmonics. 173 00:10:31,140 --> 00:10:33,360 It's really hard for me to talk about jazz. 174 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:35,600 I found it to be an enjoyable experience. 175 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:40,220 I like the idea of the bass being in the forefront. 176 00:10:40,220 --> 00:10:45,840 It's an underrated instrument, I guess, when it comes to sort of lead sounds, right? 177 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:50,160 Typically it's just kind of buried and providing a foundation for a record. 178 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:52,760 But definitely a fun experience. 179 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:57,840 And I'm glad that I now know somebody who's considered to be one of the elite bass players 180 00:10:57,840 --> 00:10:58,840 out there. 181 00:10:58,840 --> 00:10:59,840 Yeah. 182 00:10:59,840 --> 00:11:03,600 Let's play a cut here that really shows off his elite chops here. 183 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:18,240 This is the bit of the opener called Donnelly. 184 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:19,240 Interesting tune. 185 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:26,900 The famous jazz composition originally written by Charlie Parker, maybe Miles Davis, supposedly, 186 00:11:26,900 --> 00:11:29,560 or potentially drummer Norman Kahn. 187 00:11:29,560 --> 00:11:35,560 Apparently Charlie Parker is known for it, but Miles Davis claimed that he wrote it. 188 00:11:35,560 --> 00:11:39,840 But then he later also said that they really got the idea from Norman Kahn, the drummer. 189 00:11:39,840 --> 00:11:43,960 The thing about jazz, man, it's such a collaborative process. 190 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:44,960 Kahn! 191 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:45,960 Sorry. 192 00:11:45,960 --> 00:11:46,960 No, that was... 193 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:47,960 Come on, you're gonna do it. 194 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:48,960 Do it. 195 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:49,960 Kahn! 196 00:11:49,960 --> 00:11:50,960 Yeah, I think that's better. 197 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:59,880 That was pretty good. 198 00:11:59,880 --> 00:12:01,600 Come on. 199 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:07,320 Jaco's rendition of the song is notable, of course, for that fretless bass playing, speed, 200 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:08,320 the precision. 201 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:11,240 He's kind of Hendrix of bass. 202 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:17,160 And back to some of the earlier points, that doesn't necessarily carry an album very well. 203 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:22,520 I mean, it's fun, it's cool, but a couple more tracks with some vocalists probably would 204 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:23,600 have helped. 205 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:29,440 But the three words he used to describe the album are bass, no treble. 206 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:30,960 It's all about that bass. 207 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:36,280 I found myself scatting a lot for lack of lyrics, like along with the bass, like booba 208 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:37,760 dooba da ba dooba dooba da ba dooba. 209 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:39,880 Oh man, you just gotta have the lyrics, huh? 210 00:12:39,880 --> 00:12:40,880 I don't gotta. 211 00:12:40,880 --> 00:12:47,320 I mean, I enjoyed the album, but it gets like that, the opener, it gets a little like, are 212 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:48,320 we going? 213 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:49,400 Where are we going? 214 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:51,520 And then like, I guess that's it. 215 00:12:51,520 --> 00:12:52,520 Okay. 216 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:54,680 We've been there the whole time actually. 217 00:12:54,680 --> 00:12:58,280 It's funky, it's jazzy, it's bluesy, it's freeing in a way. 218 00:12:58,280 --> 00:13:03,720 It just sort of lets you float on those, on that fretless bass, you know, so you kind 219 00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:06,800 of feel like you're moving up and down that fretboard. 220 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:09,200 That's what jazz fusion is really all about, right? 221 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:17,040 Like taking jazz, adding some other elements like funky bass and also fusion often has 222 00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:19,800 innovation and there's innovation on this record. 223 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:22,160 And I did appreciate that quite a bit. 224 00:13:22,160 --> 00:13:26,480 Like the Tony Williams project that we talked about previously, that was a jazz fusion that 225 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:29,840 would have qualified for this episode as well. 226 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:34,460 But it had some of those, some of that feel, I think it's from around the same time period. 227 00:13:34,460 --> 00:13:36,960 So it had a similar production feel as well. 228 00:13:36,960 --> 00:13:37,960 So yeah, really cool. 229 00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:39,800 I really liked the Jaco. 230 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:41,280 Yeah, it's an interesting album. 231 00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:43,240 I'm definitely working on listening to it. 232 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:46,640 Like I said, there are some really standout moments and some interesting things that happen 233 00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:48,200 that may be surprising. 234 00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:52,520 But yeah, as an album on its own, I think, yeah, it's kind of a mixed bag. 235 00:13:52,520 --> 00:13:57,160 But if you're not familiar with Jaco and his work with Weather Report, I think it's a good 236 00:13:57,160 --> 00:13:59,680 place to start and has some pretty cool sounds. 237 00:13:59,680 --> 00:14:03,640 So once again, the album is Jaco Pastorius, Jaco Pastorius. 238 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:05,600 Well, Jaco's not in charge. 239 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:06,600 I am. 240 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:07,600 Got it? 241 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:08,600 I'm good enough. 242 00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:11,400 I'm smart enough and doggone it. 243 00:14:11,400 --> 00:14:12,400 People like me. 244 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:16,980 If you're enjoying the program, and we hope you are, do us a solid and leave a review 245 00:14:16,980 --> 00:14:20,580 on Apple podcasts or your favorite podcast app. 246 00:14:20,580 --> 00:14:24,180 Maybe we made you laugh or you discovered an album you enjoy. 247 00:14:24,180 --> 00:14:32,800 Leaving a review keeps the show going and helps other music fans find us. 248 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:41,400 My pick for a funky album is from the group Chic, an album called Risque, which was released 249 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:44,240 in July 1979. 250 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:50,400 This is the third studio album by the disco band formed in New York City in 1972 by guitarist 251 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:53,760 Nile Rodgers and bassist Bernard Edwards. 252 00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:56,320 Here's the opening cut from that album. 253 00:14:56,320 --> 00:14:58,320 This is Good Times. 254 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:12,520 It's definitely a recognizable tune there. 255 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:18,880 The lyrics actually include a reference to Milton Agger's Happy Days Are Here Again. 256 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:24,800 Also includes lines based on lyrics featured in About a Quarter to Nine by Al Jolson. 257 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:31,960 Rodgers has stated that these Great Depression era lyrics was a hidden way of making a comment 258 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:36,800 on the economic conditions in the United States in the 1970s. 259 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:43,720 I think a lot of Chic records, they try to have just something behind it, a little hidden 260 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:46,080 meaning in every song. 261 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:52,200 The three words I chose to describe the album are parfait, chic, simplicite. 262 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:55,200 Very good. 263 00:15:55,200 --> 00:16:00,400 Also, it's European up in here today. 264 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:07,440 I think what's going on here, it's relatively simple, but it's stylish and elegant and it's 265 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:11,920 just impeccably produced. 266 00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:15,680 I think that's the story of Chic. 267 00:16:15,680 --> 00:16:19,560 Nile Rodgers is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a producer. 268 00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:22,800 Bernard Edwards is also a pretty renowned producer. 269 00:16:22,800 --> 00:16:27,400 He did the Power Station albums and Robert Palmer in the 80s. 270 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:30,840 These are two guys that really know what they're doing in a studio. 271 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:34,520 Edwards is another bass player that is renowned. 272 00:16:34,520 --> 00:16:40,680 In fact, John Taylor from Duran Duran pretty much steals his style. 273 00:16:40,680 --> 00:16:45,000 Going back to Rio, it sounds like an Edwards bass line. 274 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:50,120 The album does feature the core group of Chic. 275 00:16:50,120 --> 00:16:55,200 Chic is mainly just Rodgers and Edwards, but you have lead vocals from Alpha Anderson and 276 00:16:55,200 --> 00:17:00,920 Lucy Martin and drums from Tony Thompson, who also was the drummer of that Power Station 277 00:17:00,920 --> 00:17:02,160 project. 278 00:17:02,160 --> 00:17:04,100 Let's hear another track from the album. 279 00:17:04,100 --> 00:17:06,400 This is My Feet Keep Dancing. 280 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:15,400 That was done with Buddy. 281 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:18,400 It's happy in there. 282 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:19,400 Very impressive. 283 00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:20,400 Yeah. 284 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:22,000 Pretty impressive indeed. 285 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:28,120 This was the third single from the album and it features co-lead vocals by Lucy Martin 286 00:17:28,120 --> 00:17:29,800 and Bernard Edwards. 287 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:35,680 The track includes a dance solo performed by Fayard Nichols. 288 00:17:35,680 --> 00:17:36,680 Very groovy. 289 00:17:36,680 --> 00:17:37,820 The bass lines are awesome. 290 00:17:37,820 --> 00:17:39,400 The guitar riffs are cool. 291 00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:41,400 The tap dancing is unique. 292 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:48,280 The three words I used to describe the album, more tap sounds or more cowbell. 293 00:17:48,280 --> 00:17:53,000 No, the three words were funky bass discotheque. 294 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:56,600 It's a little more advanced than a lot of other disco. 295 00:17:56,600 --> 00:18:03,120 There's more time and talent put into the musicianship, I think, of these compositions 296 00:18:03,120 --> 00:18:06,120 compared to a lot of other disco artists and songs. 297 00:18:06,120 --> 00:18:11,680 Lyrics are kind of flat, but Bernard Edwards, the funky bass player, I feel like he's key 298 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:14,680 to the success of this band. 299 00:18:14,680 --> 00:18:15,920 It's a fun listen. 300 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:17,200 Not a lot of meat. 301 00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:23,760 It's well crafted, like I said, but other than good times, it was okay. 302 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:26,000 Just was disco music in the background. 303 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:31,120 Closer listens, I found some of those nice details, but all in all, a lot of these tracks 304 00:18:31,120 --> 00:18:36,480 were not super compelling to me beyond the big single, but it was fun. 305 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:40,480 It was certainly a non-offensive disco experience. 306 00:18:40,480 --> 00:18:43,280 Did it make you want to dance, is the question? 307 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:45,480 It did not, and that's where it failed. 308 00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:47,960 Okay, well let's try another one. 309 00:18:47,960 --> 00:18:50,120 Here's Can't Stand to Love You. 310 00:18:50,120 --> 00:18:53,720 Now you think I'm upset the way that you're treating me. 311 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:57,320 You think I were into wrestling. 312 00:18:57,320 --> 00:18:58,600 I can't deal with it. 313 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:00,440 You won't get away with it. 314 00:19:00,440 --> 00:19:05,080 I really found myself enjoying the B-side of this record a fair amount. 315 00:19:05,080 --> 00:19:12,480 Just has some shorter little R&B funky disco twinge to these tracks, but they're not nearly 316 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:16,640 as heavily disco-ized as the A-side here. 317 00:19:16,640 --> 00:19:18,200 I would agree. 318 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:27,200 Rare feet where B-side is the more enjoyable, and it doesn't have any really known tracks. 319 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:28,200 More variety. 320 00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:30,640 Let's call it the B-plus side. 321 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:31,640 They should. 322 00:19:31,640 --> 00:19:36,640 Three words I used to describe this album are wedding DJ approved. 323 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:40,240 Definitely had some flashbacks to some wedding receptions I've been to. 324 00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:41,520 Not a bad thing. 325 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:45,440 Not only just the sounds in these songs are things you might hear at a wedding reception, 326 00:19:45,440 --> 00:19:50,360 but I think the way the disco songs are constructed are perfect for a DJ. 327 00:19:50,360 --> 00:19:52,720 They're pretty lengthy cuts, man. 328 00:19:52,720 --> 00:19:54,720 Eight, six, seven minutes long each. 329 00:19:54,720 --> 00:20:00,800 There's a lot of repetition in them, almost like they've been looped for your enjoyment. 330 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:02,880 It's fun to freestyle over them. 331 00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:06,440 I think that might be a part of it. 332 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:11,120 It's a chance for the DJ to take over, maybe do a little mic break or mix in something 333 00:20:11,120 --> 00:20:12,120 else. 334 00:20:12,120 --> 00:20:17,740 Well, as we alluded to with rap and granny there from the Wedding Singer, that is exactly 335 00:20:17,740 --> 00:20:19,520 what happened with the Sugar Hill Gang. 336 00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:20,520 Yeah. 337 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:24,000 Lyrically, like I was saying, the album does seem simple, but I appreciate that there's 338 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:27,840 a hidden layer to these lyrics and some thought went into it. 339 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:33,760 I think as we've said, the low end, the groove, the rhythm section is really what shines and 340 00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:38,560 makes this album still interesting to hear after all these years. 341 00:20:38,560 --> 00:20:39,560 It's pretty tight. 342 00:20:39,560 --> 00:20:40,880 I really enjoyed the group playing together. 343 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:41,880 I like the vocalists. 344 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:46,300 I don't always love multiple lead vocalists like they use here. 345 00:20:46,300 --> 00:20:50,360 Sometimes it sounds a little cheesy, but the very talented singers and I think especially 346 00:20:50,360 --> 00:20:54,200 when they don't have all the strings competing with them on the high end, I think it works 347 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:55,200 really well. 348 00:20:55,200 --> 00:21:00,840 So yeah, I wasn't as down on this as I thought I might be coming into a disco record. 349 00:21:00,840 --> 00:21:07,080 One interesting thing I found out in the story of Chic is that Edwards is actually the one 350 00:21:07,080 --> 00:21:11,080 who taught Nile Rodgers how to do that guitar strumming pattern. 351 00:21:11,080 --> 00:21:14,200 I guess they call it like chop chord style. 352 00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:17,480 Some people call it chucking, which is also used in bluegrass a lot. 353 00:21:17,480 --> 00:21:21,240 But when I think of funk actually, I think of that guitar style. 354 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:25,960 I think it's like the same guitar that's on David Bowie's Let's Dance, which of course 355 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:27,600 Nile Rodgers produced. 356 00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:28,600 Okay. 357 00:21:28,600 --> 00:21:31,600 Yeah, I thought about if we hadn't talked about that record, I would have snuck that 358 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:32,600 into potentially. 359 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:37,120 And by the way, the two of them also produced the sister Sledge, We Are Family, which is 360 00:21:37,120 --> 00:21:39,120 another huge disco record. 361 00:21:39,120 --> 00:21:41,400 Yes, another big wedding song as well. 362 00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:42,400 That tracks. 363 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:47,600 And so further listening, there's a Johnny Mathis album that was never released, which 364 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:50,840 was produced by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers. 365 00:21:50,840 --> 00:21:52,280 And it's actually quite interesting. 366 00:21:52,280 --> 00:21:53,280 You can find it. 367 00:21:53,280 --> 00:21:56,640 Now it was part of some Johnny Mathis like box set or something. 368 00:21:56,640 --> 00:22:03,560 Anyway, so that was Chic with Risque from 1979. 369 00:22:03,560 --> 00:22:08,960 That's Chic with Risque. 370 00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:19,920 Excuse me, I'd like to ask you a few questions. 371 00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:24,680 Now another deep question from Don. 372 00:22:24,680 --> 00:22:28,880 What two things do you think work best when put together so deep? 373 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:36,560 One thing that came to mind, I enjoy if it's an option, if you go to like a Chinese restaurant 374 00:22:36,560 --> 00:22:38,720 or a sushi establishment. 375 00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:40,560 I'm all for, give me some chopsticks. 376 00:22:40,560 --> 00:22:42,760 Let me enjoy the authentic experience. 377 00:22:42,760 --> 00:22:47,560 If I go to an African restaurant, I'll eat with my hands. 378 00:22:47,560 --> 00:22:48,560 It's fine. 379 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:53,520 So yeah, I think I appreciate that elements of culture in your food. 380 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:55,480 So like the chopsticks go together, is that what you mean? 381 00:22:55,480 --> 00:22:58,360 So that's two sticks that go together to form one utensil? 382 00:22:58,360 --> 00:23:01,840 Literally the two sticks, yeah, I suppose. 383 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:11,400 Well, there's that, but what I got from his deep answer was the pairing of the food with 384 00:23:11,400 --> 00:23:14,720 a traditional implement to eat it with. 385 00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:15,720 Thank you. 386 00:23:15,720 --> 00:23:16,720 They're also good for catching flies. 387 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:17,720 Yeah. 388 00:23:17,720 --> 00:23:18,720 Yes. 389 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:19,720 You're a kung fu master. 390 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:20,720 Wow. 391 00:23:20,720 --> 00:23:25,800 Or if you're training with your maintenance man at your apartment building, because you 392 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:27,080 got some bullies bothering you. 393 00:23:27,080 --> 00:23:28,600 Pretty standard stuff, Andy. 394 00:23:28,600 --> 00:23:29,600 We've all been there. 395 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:33,000 Yeah, for me, chocolate and peanut butter, of course. 396 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:34,880 That's a famous one. 397 00:23:34,880 --> 00:23:37,160 Reese's nailed that. 398 00:23:37,160 --> 00:23:38,880 Football and beer. 399 00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:44,140 Even on a Sunday when I don't feel like having a beer, if football is on, I kind of feel 400 00:23:44,140 --> 00:23:46,280 like I must have at least one. 401 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:49,120 It just sort of has to occur. 402 00:23:49,120 --> 00:23:54,880 Maybe it's years in the eighties when they were allowed to have constant beer commercials. 403 00:23:54,880 --> 00:23:59,680 Maybe I was influenced by that, that I must have beer with football. 404 00:23:59,680 --> 00:24:01,840 But of course, time and chance. 405 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:02,840 Time and chance. 406 00:24:02,840 --> 00:24:03,840 Whoa. 407 00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:04,840 There you go. 408 00:24:04,840 --> 00:24:07,320 Tell us more. 409 00:24:07,320 --> 00:24:10,640 That's what leads us through this mysterious thing we call life. 410 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:12,200 We're getting some deep thoughts here. 411 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:13,200 Nice, Don. 412 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:15,520 Well, there's all sorts of areas you could go to. 413 00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:16,520 I was thinking sports. 414 00:24:16,520 --> 00:24:19,840 So I was thinking like, what, Jordan and Pippen. 415 00:24:19,840 --> 00:24:20,840 Oh, right. 416 00:24:20,840 --> 00:24:21,840 Sure. 417 00:24:21,840 --> 00:24:22,840 Go well together. 418 00:24:22,840 --> 00:24:23,840 Tons of examples in music. 419 00:24:23,840 --> 00:24:26,280 I'm in a Garfunkel, Lennon and McCartney. 420 00:24:26,280 --> 00:24:31,560 But I'm going to go back to food and I'm going to say grilled cheese and tomato soup. 421 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:34,520 Oh, that's a nice combo. 422 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:36,680 I think it's like a comfort food, I would say. 423 00:24:36,680 --> 00:24:42,040 I take a shortcut and put some thin slices of tomato in my grilled cheese. 424 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:43,040 A little healthy. 425 00:24:43,040 --> 00:24:45,040 That's a good combo, too. 426 00:24:45,040 --> 00:24:46,040 All right. 427 00:24:46,040 --> 00:24:49,600 Well, what two things do you like put together? 428 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:52,000 Yikes. 429 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:53,000 Let us know. 430 00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:56,520 You can find us on the socials, Instagram, Facebook and threads. 431 00:24:56,520 --> 00:25:01,040 Also on the discord, albumnerds.com slash discord. 432 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:10,720 I've never done so long. 433 00:25:10,720 --> 00:25:11,720 Yeah. 434 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:16,400 So in Living Color, and there's often been some confusion, in Living Color was a comedy, 435 00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:18,360 you know, sketch comedy show. 436 00:25:18,360 --> 00:25:22,520 But Living Color is the band we're going to be talking about. 437 00:25:22,520 --> 00:25:24,960 They formed in 1984. 438 00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:29,880 Current lineup, they are still around Vernon Reed, Corey Glover, Will Calhoun and Doug 439 00:25:29,880 --> 00:25:30,880 Wimbish. 440 00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:36,200 And apparently Mick Jagger's interest in them back in the day is kind of what led to a recording 441 00:25:36,200 --> 00:25:37,800 contract with Epic Records. 442 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:42,080 Their debut album, Vivid, is what we're going to be talking about today. 443 00:25:42,080 --> 00:25:46,840 It's a rock, funk, metal, alternative, soul fusion. 444 00:25:46,840 --> 00:25:49,440 It's just a lot of good stuff mixed up together. 445 00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:52,680 So why don't we start off with a song you might recognize. 446 00:25:52,680 --> 00:26:05,760 It's called Cult of Personality. 447 00:26:05,760 --> 00:26:08,920 So that riff is pretty inescapable. 448 00:26:08,920 --> 00:26:10,580 I love that riff. 449 00:26:10,580 --> 00:26:17,320 It's the first track on the album and without fail, when you start the record, you're happy. 450 00:26:17,320 --> 00:26:18,320 Like it's a good place. 451 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:19,320 Right out of the gate. 452 00:26:19,320 --> 00:26:20,320 Yeah. 453 00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:25,800 It's one of those great moments when you start a record. 454 00:26:25,800 --> 00:26:29,200 Sometimes you want to start it over to hear the song one more time before you roll into 455 00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:30,200 the rest. 456 00:26:30,200 --> 00:26:31,840 So it's a dark subject matter though. 457 00:26:31,840 --> 00:26:32,840 Yes. 458 00:26:32,840 --> 00:26:33,840 That's still relevant today. 459 00:26:33,840 --> 00:26:36,000 Of course, of course. 460 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:41,520 So the song is known for some of the clips from speeches and things like it opens with 461 00:26:41,520 --> 00:26:47,120 Malcolm X's speech, Message to the Grassroots, setting the politically charged tone. 462 00:26:47,120 --> 00:26:55,120 Of course, the guitar riff, it calls out Stalin, Gandhi, Mussolini, Kennedy, exploring the allure 463 00:26:55,120 --> 00:26:58,520 and dangers of charismatic leadership. 464 00:26:58,520 --> 00:27:04,600 It criticizes the manipulation of public opinion and blind devotion to charismatic figures. 465 00:27:04,600 --> 00:27:05,600 Hmm. 466 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:07,000 Wonder if that happens now. 467 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:08,000 Nah, not relevant. 468 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:09,280 Nah, we're past that now. 469 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:10,280 Yeah, totally. 470 00:27:10,280 --> 00:27:12,520 We've grown thanks to these guys. 471 00:27:12,520 --> 00:27:13,920 People learn their lesson. 472 00:27:13,920 --> 00:27:20,760 I won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1990 and remains signature track, of course. 473 00:27:20,760 --> 00:27:25,800 The three words I used to describe the album are vivid, unbound fusion. 474 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:27,920 It's bright. 475 00:27:27,920 --> 00:27:33,720 In some ways, it's those day glow colors of the 80s. 476 00:27:33,720 --> 00:27:35,720 In other ways, it's timeless. 477 00:27:35,720 --> 00:27:37,720 But the fusion is undeniable. 478 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:39,200 You hear elements of metal. 479 00:27:39,200 --> 00:27:42,960 There's some straight up soul pop songs. 480 00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:46,120 Corey Glover's vocals vary quite a bit. 481 00:27:46,120 --> 00:27:48,120 He can do a lot. 482 00:27:48,120 --> 00:27:50,200 And that's part of what keeps it really interesting. 483 00:27:50,200 --> 00:27:55,800 We have some guests, Mick Jagger, Chuck D, Flavor Flav. 484 00:27:55,800 --> 00:27:58,420 It's just like a melting pot of music. 485 00:27:58,420 --> 00:28:02,840 The strongest tracks are those that have a little more social commentary. 486 00:28:02,840 --> 00:28:07,960 Like Cult of Personality, Open Letter to a Landlord, Desperate People, Funny Vibe, Which 487 00:28:07,960 --> 00:28:09,880 Way to America. 488 00:28:09,880 --> 00:28:13,120 Those have a little more lyrical meat to them. 489 00:28:13,120 --> 00:28:16,400 Some of the other songs are more like pop oriented, love songs and things. 490 00:28:16,400 --> 00:28:18,760 Did you guys carry the way? 491 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:21,840 Did you believe one side of it was stronger than the other? 492 00:28:21,840 --> 00:28:28,000 I mean, honestly, I thought each track really had a pretty distinct topic, which is kind 493 00:28:28,000 --> 00:28:30,800 of unusual for rock music at least. 494 00:28:30,800 --> 00:28:33,520 Yeah, I mean, those ones I think are strong. 495 00:28:33,520 --> 00:28:38,000 I think they have an interesting perspective. 496 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:42,800 Open Letter to a Landlord was something I'd never really heard addressed in music before. 497 00:28:42,800 --> 00:28:47,040 This idea of these leptid buildings having a history and importance to the community. 498 00:28:47,040 --> 00:28:48,880 Yeah, like the gentrification stuff. 499 00:28:48,880 --> 00:28:51,040 Like, hey, think about this. 500 00:28:51,040 --> 00:28:55,760 The stuff you're ripping down you think is slum garbage is someone's home and they have 501 00:28:55,760 --> 00:28:56,760 memories. 502 00:28:56,760 --> 00:28:57,760 Yeah, exactly. 503 00:28:57,760 --> 00:28:59,280 I thought they articulated that point really well. 504 00:28:59,280 --> 00:29:04,000 But honestly, I thought every track really had a pretty interesting message. 505 00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:09,560 Well, speaking of interesting messages, and in this case, in your face messages, let's 506 00:29:09,560 --> 00:29:11,400 check out a little bit of Funny Vibe. 507 00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:28,240 I mean, as much as I was pleasantly surprised by the lyrical content, I think the songs 508 00:29:28,240 --> 00:29:32,120 that I gravitated towards most on this record were the ones that were a little more bass 509 00:29:32,120 --> 00:29:35,560 heavy, maybe just because I got bass in the head this week. 510 00:29:35,560 --> 00:29:41,360 But yeah, that track there is kind of just a jam track, pretty loose lyrics about racism, 511 00:29:41,360 --> 00:29:42,760 but pretty loose feel to that track. 512 00:29:42,760 --> 00:29:44,760 I really love that though. 513 00:29:44,760 --> 00:29:48,160 And some of the later tracks on the record too also get into some pretty interesting 514 00:29:48,160 --> 00:29:50,400 funk jam spaces. 515 00:29:50,400 --> 00:29:53,720 Three words I used to describe this record are blowing up stereotypes. 516 00:29:53,720 --> 00:29:57,640 Yeah, I was impressed. 517 00:29:57,640 --> 00:30:03,520 This album is gritty in terms of just the production and the sounds, but also the bass 518 00:30:03,520 --> 00:30:09,000 and the incorporation of these different sounds as Dude alluded to, makes it sound a little 519 00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:10,000 bit ahead of its time. 520 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:15,080 I mean, definitely sounds a little bit more like the rock could get later in the early 521 00:30:15,080 --> 00:30:19,120 to mid 90s there, bands like Faith and More, Red Hot Chili Peppers. 522 00:30:19,120 --> 00:30:21,840 You definitely can hear a lot of similarities. 523 00:30:21,840 --> 00:30:26,120 One thing I do have, which is kind of unique is just straight up guitar shredding at times, 524 00:30:26,120 --> 00:30:32,200 kind of like zeppelin-esque kind of sound, which just kind of comes out of nowhere, which 525 00:30:32,200 --> 00:30:33,200 is cool though. 526 00:30:33,200 --> 00:30:34,200 Yeah. 527 00:30:34,200 --> 00:30:37,560 Yeah, the other thing that I would mention too that took me by surprise were there's 528 00:30:37,560 --> 00:30:43,960 a handful of more soulful ballads on here where Glover's vocals are really soft and 529 00:30:43,960 --> 00:30:46,400 tender and gentle. 530 00:30:46,400 --> 00:30:49,880 It was a sharp contrast to the greatness of the rest of the record. 531 00:30:49,880 --> 00:30:54,840 Yeah, especially at the end of Which Way to America, which lyrically, just listen carefully 532 00:30:54,840 --> 00:30:59,160 when you listen to it, essentially breaking down, how do I get to this America I hear 533 00:30:59,160 --> 00:31:00,160 about? 534 00:31:00,160 --> 00:31:01,280 It's got all this cool stuff. 535 00:31:01,280 --> 00:31:05,160 Which Way there, because my America is not like that. 536 00:31:05,160 --> 00:31:11,240 But he really goes for it vocally at the end of that with a uncharacteristic for the rest 537 00:31:11,240 --> 00:31:14,840 of the record, like metal scream kind of thing, which is pretty cool. 538 00:31:14,840 --> 00:31:16,560 Yeah, he has a pretty wide range. 539 00:31:16,560 --> 00:31:21,560 He usually stays right in a kind of a rock space, I guess I would say, but then occasionally. 540 00:31:21,560 --> 00:31:23,560 Yeah, he was impressive. 541 00:31:23,560 --> 00:31:28,040 It's fun hearing all the little samples and skits and stuff they introduce from some hip 542 00:31:28,040 --> 00:31:30,600 hop artists and politicians and whatnot. 543 00:31:30,600 --> 00:31:34,040 It gives it a bit of a very timely feel. 544 00:31:34,040 --> 00:31:36,560 Feels very 80s-esque in that sense. 545 00:31:36,560 --> 00:31:40,200 But yeah, overall, I enjoyed it a fair amount. 546 00:31:40,200 --> 00:31:45,120 Speaking of 80s-esque, there were a lot of glamour boys strutting around back in the 547 00:31:45,120 --> 00:31:46,120 80s. 548 00:31:46,120 --> 00:31:47,120 Why don't we check that track out? 549 00:31:47,120 --> 00:32:06,360 Yeah, that song has a lighter, poppier vibe, I think, than the rest of the album. 550 00:32:06,360 --> 00:32:11,000 Even sort of maybe some island sounds in there. 551 00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:14,760 Also that guitar chucking, I think, is there. 552 00:32:14,760 --> 00:32:16,760 Is that the chuck that we just heard? 553 00:32:16,760 --> 00:32:17,760 I think so. 554 00:32:17,760 --> 00:32:20,480 Although I confuse it with the... 555 00:32:20,480 --> 00:32:23,000 There's the ska thing too, which is similar. 556 00:32:23,000 --> 00:32:24,000 The ska riff. 557 00:32:24,000 --> 00:32:26,080 Yeah, it's very, very close. 558 00:32:26,080 --> 00:32:28,040 The reggae riff has chaka. 559 00:32:28,040 --> 00:32:31,680 I'm going to have to explore that more. 560 00:32:31,680 --> 00:32:36,680 But yeah, so as Dewitt alluded to, the song discusses young men that are obsessed with 561 00:32:36,680 --> 00:32:41,120 aspects of high society, such as clothing and parties. 562 00:32:41,120 --> 00:32:44,920 I actually like when they get to the chorus, all of a sudden there's some power chords 563 00:32:44,920 --> 00:32:45,920 thrown in. 564 00:32:45,920 --> 00:32:50,840 The three words I chose to describe the album are, they are fierce. 565 00:32:50,840 --> 00:32:56,560 We didn't get to it, but in the song, glamour boys, they declare, I'm fierce. 566 00:32:56,560 --> 00:32:58,760 Yeah, this is really... 567 00:32:58,760 --> 00:33:01,000 It's a surprisingly good album. 568 00:33:01,000 --> 00:33:03,000 Especially considering Dude picked it. 569 00:33:03,000 --> 00:33:05,560 I didn't see that coming at all. 570 00:33:05,560 --> 00:33:07,560 What a shocker. 571 00:33:07,560 --> 00:33:12,920 It's something I was aware of at the time, but I never spent time with it. 572 00:33:12,920 --> 00:33:18,480 And it's just a great fusion of so many things that I now love. 573 00:33:18,480 --> 00:33:22,080 Hard rock and metal, pop and funk. 574 00:33:22,080 --> 00:33:24,920 A little bit of soul thrown in there. 575 00:33:24,920 --> 00:33:29,440 Glover's voice is quite dynamic and soulful. 576 00:33:29,440 --> 00:33:32,920 Compared to some of the other funk, metal, or whatever we... 577 00:33:32,920 --> 00:33:33,920 Is it metal funk? 578 00:33:33,920 --> 00:33:34,920 Funk metal? 579 00:33:34,920 --> 00:33:35,920 Fetal? 580 00:33:35,920 --> 00:33:36,920 Funk metal. 581 00:33:36,920 --> 00:33:37,920 Funk cattle. 582 00:33:37,920 --> 00:33:42,880 Funk cattle, that's almost crossing a line. 583 00:33:42,880 --> 00:33:48,720 So, comparing it to the Chili Peppers or Faith No More, it doesn't have the rap. 584 00:33:48,720 --> 00:33:53,280 It's got Chuck D, but not really too much rap. 585 00:33:53,280 --> 00:33:55,000 And I just... 586 00:33:55,000 --> 00:33:58,920 With how excellent this album is, I'm kind of puzzled. 587 00:33:58,920 --> 00:34:03,960 It feels like they got left behind and they were even on, I think, that first Lollapalooza 588 00:34:03,960 --> 00:34:04,960 bill. 589 00:34:04,960 --> 00:34:09,920 So they were sort of on the path to being part of that alternative scene, but it's like 590 00:34:09,920 --> 00:34:12,400 the Seattle grunge kind of hijacked it. 591 00:34:12,400 --> 00:34:13,400 I agree. 592 00:34:13,400 --> 00:34:19,640 I think that the change in popular, what rock was supposed to sound like, definitely hurt 593 00:34:19,640 --> 00:34:20,640 them. 594 00:34:20,640 --> 00:34:21,640 And not with critics. 595 00:34:21,640 --> 00:34:25,680 I mean, their second album also got Grammy nominations as well as their third, I believe. 596 00:34:25,680 --> 00:34:28,520 But that was 93, I think, when their third one came out. 597 00:34:28,520 --> 00:34:34,240 And by then, I think their sound was considered passe, which is unfortunate. 598 00:34:34,240 --> 00:34:39,740 But yeah, I think they're unsung heroes of the era and of the scene. 599 00:34:39,740 --> 00:34:43,360 And for that reason, I'm going to nominate this album for the album, It's All the Fame. 600 00:34:43,360 --> 00:34:47,120 Oh my gosh. 601 00:34:47,120 --> 00:34:53,360 Although this fusion was not invented by them, I think they were the first to really nail 602 00:34:53,360 --> 00:34:54,360 it. 603 00:34:54,360 --> 00:34:58,800 Chili Peppers had been around feeling it out, finding their way. 604 00:34:58,800 --> 00:35:00,120 Faith No More as well. 605 00:35:00,120 --> 00:35:06,120 But I feel like this debut album set the scene for what it was supposed to sound like. 606 00:35:06,120 --> 00:35:12,920 And the songwriting, the performances, the bass playing, just the undercurrent of funk 607 00:35:12,920 --> 00:35:16,400 fused with all these other things. 608 00:35:16,400 --> 00:35:21,520 The more I listened to it for this week, the more I appreciated it and saw its intrinsic 609 00:35:21,520 --> 00:35:22,520 value. 610 00:35:22,520 --> 00:35:24,000 So what do you guys think? 611 00:35:24,000 --> 00:35:26,600 Well, The World of Niles Barkley. 612 00:35:26,600 --> 00:35:28,720 I think you're crazy, bro. 613 00:35:28,720 --> 00:35:30,400 I don't know. 614 00:35:30,400 --> 00:35:34,160 I definitely enjoyed it more than I thought I would, but I'm not sure it's quite that 615 00:35:34,160 --> 00:35:36,320 caliber of an album, to be honest with you. 616 00:35:36,320 --> 00:35:40,640 It's definitely very good and I definitely agree with the influence. 617 00:35:40,640 --> 00:35:42,640 I'm going to say no. 618 00:35:42,640 --> 00:35:51,720 I would vote yes anyway, but now, especially because this will leave it up to the audience. 619 00:35:51,720 --> 00:35:55,080 Maybe it's just a temporary infatuation with me. 620 00:35:55,080 --> 00:35:59,960 This week, I'm just like, wow, I really, really like this album. 621 00:35:59,960 --> 00:36:02,800 And I think it's innovative. 622 00:36:02,800 --> 00:36:07,080 And then even a song like Cult of Personality, I feel like any of the grunge acts could have 623 00:36:07,080 --> 00:36:09,120 done that song afterwards. 624 00:36:09,120 --> 00:36:14,600 So I think these grunge acts were probably influenced by this record. 625 00:36:14,600 --> 00:36:16,120 So I vote yes. 626 00:36:16,120 --> 00:36:18,800 I also like the British spelling of color. 627 00:36:18,800 --> 00:36:21,360 Yeah, so well done. 628 00:36:21,360 --> 00:36:22,360 There you go. 629 00:36:22,360 --> 00:36:23,360 That's it. 630 00:36:23,360 --> 00:36:28,840 Yeah, I mean, I hesitated to nominate because I wasn't sure if I was on like a, when you're 631 00:36:28,840 --> 00:36:31,680 on vacation and then you want to live there. 632 00:36:31,680 --> 00:36:33,680 I wasn't sure if that's what's happening. 633 00:36:33,680 --> 00:36:36,240 If I'm having an album honeymoon right now. 634 00:36:36,240 --> 00:36:37,960 But I think we all have. 635 00:36:37,960 --> 00:36:43,160 I might end up, but I, yeah, I'm coming back to earth pretty quickly on this one. 636 00:36:43,160 --> 00:36:44,160 Yeah. 637 00:36:44,160 --> 00:36:48,800 So, so listeners go put in your votes of nerds.com or album nerds.com slash discord. 638 00:36:48,800 --> 00:36:51,520 And maybe in a couple of weeks, I'll vote it down. 639 00:36:51,520 --> 00:36:53,120 But for now, it's my jam. 640 00:36:53,120 --> 00:36:55,280 That's living color vivid. 641 00:36:55,280 --> 00:36:59,240 Go check it out. 642 00:36:59,240 --> 00:37:03,600 So we explored the world of funk and funk fusion. 643 00:37:03,600 --> 00:37:04,600 What did we learn? 644 00:37:04,600 --> 00:37:07,920 Well, one thing struck me as we were talking about this chic record. 645 00:37:07,920 --> 00:37:12,400 I think Don mentioned that funk in the harsh part is responsible for disco. 646 00:37:12,400 --> 00:37:17,800 It never really occurred to me that those two things grew out of each other so sequentially. 647 00:37:17,800 --> 00:37:19,920 So that kind of sucks. 648 00:37:19,920 --> 00:37:21,400 I mean. 649 00:37:21,400 --> 00:37:22,400 Why? 650 00:37:22,400 --> 00:37:27,800 I think with funk, because it was often at a slower tempo or something. 651 00:37:27,800 --> 00:37:29,120 There's like more space in it. 652 00:37:29,120 --> 00:37:34,440 I think you can throw that four on the floor beat onto it like really neatly so that the 653 00:37:34,440 --> 00:37:36,080 two really fuse well together. 654 00:37:36,080 --> 00:37:43,480 Well, you know, I think every genre that gets like as more artistically grown, right? 655 00:37:43,480 --> 00:37:48,400 That gets synthesized and then used in more popular. 656 00:37:48,400 --> 00:37:50,080 Or broad appeal. 657 00:37:50,080 --> 00:37:51,080 Yeah. 658 00:37:51,080 --> 00:37:52,320 And that, you know, that happens all the time. 659 00:37:52,320 --> 00:37:54,400 I mean, it happened with funk into disco. 660 00:37:54,400 --> 00:38:00,480 It's happened with various types of rock, heavy metal made their way into pop. 661 00:38:00,480 --> 00:38:05,840 So would you say that like each kind of like original genre has like its own bastardized 662 00:38:05,840 --> 00:38:07,600 commercial version of itself? 663 00:38:07,600 --> 00:38:13,160 Well, it's or you could consider it influences, you know, it influences pop culture. 664 00:38:13,160 --> 00:38:19,720 It's so powerful that it works its way into pop music, rock music, any all types of forms. 665 00:38:19,720 --> 00:38:25,840 And I think that's what I learned was how much funk and bass in particular, that slappy 666 00:38:25,840 --> 00:38:33,080 style, how much that worked its way into all sorts of genres that I didn't really realize 667 00:38:33,080 --> 00:38:34,200 before. 668 00:38:34,200 --> 00:38:35,520 Not consciously realize. 669 00:38:35,520 --> 00:38:36,840 I feel so funky. 670 00:38:36,840 --> 00:38:42,240 I mean, for me, and I think it came out because we did a great jazz bass player and we did 671 00:38:42,240 --> 00:38:47,640 a great kind of disco funk bass player that it's all about the bass. 672 00:38:47,640 --> 00:38:54,640 And that's one to grow on. 673 00:38:54,640 --> 00:38:59,640 I'm your density. 674 00:38:59,640 --> 00:39:02,640 I mean, your destiny. 675 00:39:02,640 --> 00:39:08,000 Alright, boys and girls, everybody grab your fretless bass and gather around. 676 00:39:08,000 --> 00:39:12,680 It's that time once again to give that wheel of musical destiny a spin and see what's in 677 00:39:12,680 --> 00:39:22,000 store for us next week. 678 00:39:22,000 --> 00:39:25,640 Next week, you will all be striving to put right what once went wrong. 679 00:39:25,640 --> 00:39:30,480 An album that you previously discussed was not given the time or attention it deserves. 680 00:39:30,480 --> 00:39:33,760 You will revisit and dig into Purple Rain by Prince. 681 00:39:33,760 --> 00:39:35,080 Let's go crazy. 682 00:39:35,080 --> 00:39:39,760 So it looks like we're going to be revisiting Prince's Purple Rain, digging in deep, getting 683 00:39:39,760 --> 00:39:42,760 all those crevices and see what we think. 684 00:39:42,760 --> 00:39:44,200 Clean out your couch lately, man? 685 00:39:44,200 --> 00:39:45,200 Or what's going on? 686 00:39:45,200 --> 00:39:48,880 That's where you find out the loose change, yo. 687 00:39:48,880 --> 00:39:55,640 Alright, quick reminder that we do have ongoing Elbner's Hall of Fame votes. 688 00:39:55,640 --> 00:40:00,520 We have one week left to cast your ballots for Sly and the Family Stones. 689 00:40:00,520 --> 00:40:01,840 There's a riot going on. 690 00:40:01,840 --> 00:40:06,120 So if you have a strong opinion, yay or nay, that belongs in the Elbner's Hall of Fame, 691 00:40:06,120 --> 00:40:11,840 go to our website, albnerds.com and our Discord, albnerds.com slash Discord to cast your votes. 692 00:40:11,840 --> 00:40:19,400 I want to give a quick shout out of congratulations to Roxy Music and particularly the album Avalon 693 00:40:19,400 --> 00:40:22,400 voted in by the listeners. 694 00:40:22,400 --> 00:40:25,360 Landslide overwhelming positivity on that album. 695 00:40:25,360 --> 00:40:26,840 So congratulations, Roxy Music. 696 00:40:26,840 --> 00:40:28,680 Welcome to the Hall of Fame. 697 00:40:28,680 --> 00:40:29,680 Okay. 698 00:40:29,680 --> 00:40:31,920 What's your favorite funk influenced album? 699 00:40:31,920 --> 00:40:33,640 Do you like Prince's Purple Rain? 700 00:40:33,640 --> 00:40:34,640 Let us know. 701 00:40:34,640 --> 00:40:37,720 You can follow Album Nerds on Discord at albumnerds.com slash Discord. 702 00:40:37,720 --> 00:40:41,160 You can email us at podcast at albumnerds.com. 703 00:40:41,160 --> 00:40:43,920 Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and threads at Album Nerds. 704 00:40:43,920 --> 00:40:46,960 And please subscribe, rate and review on your favorite podcast app. 705 00:40:46,960 --> 00:40:51,800 If you'd like to support the show, you can do so via PayPal at albumnerds.com slash support. 706 00:40:51,800 --> 00:40:53,800 Thank you so much for joining us on the Album Nerds podcast. 707 00:40:53,800 --> 00:40:54,800 We'll catch you next time. 708 00:40:54,800 --> 00:40:55,800 We're going to get purple. 709 00:40:55,800 --> 00:40:56,800 That's not dangerous. 710 00:40:56,800 --> 00:40:57,800 Thanks for listening everybody. 711 00:40:57,800 --> 00:40:58,800 Catch you next week. 712 00:40:58,800 --> 00:40:59,800 This is Purple Rain. 713 00:40:59,800 --> 00:41:00,800 It's purple rain. 714 00:41:00,800 --> 00:41:04,800 This is purple rain. 715 00:41:04,800 --> 00:41:31,800 This is purple rain.